Common North American deer species, such as the Whitetail and Mule deer, have a highly flexible diet. They are opportunistic browsers, consuming a wide variety of plant material based on availability and nutritional needs. Deer generally seek out plants that offer high levels of moisture, sugar, or tender new growth, as these are the most easily digestible and nutrient-dense options.
High-Preference Plants
Deer consistently seek out plants high in readily available energy and protein, which translates to tender, succulent growth. In home gardens, this preference is evident in their attraction to vegetables and ornamentals with high moisture content. Favorites include garden staples like soybeans, peas, lettuce, and the leaves of brassicas such as turnips and radishes. Perennial landscaping plants, such as hostas and daylilies, are also frequently targeted for their soft leaves and high palatability.
The attraction extends to woody browse, particularly the new growth of certain shrubs and trees. Deer often consume the tender tips and buds of young saplings, including species like maple, birch, cherry, aspen, and red osier dogwood. This new growth is higher in protein and digestibility than mature, woody material, providing a welcome source of nutrients. Even common field weeds like wild lettuce and pokeweed are favored in their young stages due to their high protein content.
The most universally attractive food source is mast, which includes both hard and soft varieties. Hard mast, such as acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, and chestnuts, provides an excellent source of carbohydrates and fats for energy storage. Soft mast, including apples, pears, and persimmons, is consumed for its high sugar and moisture content. Deer actively seek out these fruit and nut crops, making them powerful attractants when available.
Seasonal Shifts in Deer Diet
The specific plants deer target shift dramatically throughout the year in response to changing biological requirements. In the spring and summer, the focus is on growth and reproduction, requiring a diet high in protein. Bucks need protein for antler development, while does require it for lactation and supporting fawns. During this time, they consume lush, green forbs and high-protein legumes like alfalfa and clover.
As the year transitions into fall and winter, the deer’s nutritional priority changes to energy reserves for survival and breeding. Their diet shifts to emphasize foods high in carbohydrates and fats, which are stored as body fat to sustain them through colder months. Hard mast crops like acorns become a primary food source, providing dense calories before they are buried under snow.
When deep snow covers the ground, deer rely heavily on woody browse and accessible plants. Brassicas, such as turnips and radishes, become more attractive after a frost because cold temperatures convert starches into sugars, increasing palatability and energy density. In severe periods, evergreen plants and the buds of dormant shrubs provide a last-resort food source to maintain body temperature and basic functions.
Understanding Deer Browsing Habits
Deer are classified as browsers, preferring to eat leaves, soft shoots, and fruits, which distinguishes them from grazers that primarily consume grass. Their feeding style is dictated by the absence of upper incisor teeth. Instead, they possess a hardened upper dental pad against which their lower incisors press to grasp and tear vegetation.
This tearing method leaves a distinctive ragged or frayed appearance on the damaged plant stem. In contrast, damage caused by small rodents like rabbits is characterized by a clean, angled cut. Deer exhibit a preference for the young, tender growth at the tips of branches and plants, which contain the highest concentration of easily digestible nutrients.
Repeated browsing often results in the formation of a “browse line,” a visible horizontal line in the forest or landscape. This line marks the maximum height a deer can comfortably reach to feed, typically four to five feet from the ground. Below this height, vegetation is severely limited or non-existent, while plant growth above the browse line remains untouched.
Low-Preference Plants
While a truly “deer-proof” plant does not exist, many plants possess natural deterrents that cause deer to avoid them under normal conditions. One common defense is the presence of strong or pungent odors, which deer find offensive. Plants in this category include many herbs and aromatics.
Odor and Taste Deterrents
Plants with strong odors include:
- Lavender
- Ornamental sage
- Catmint
- The foliage of ornamental onions (allium)
Another major deterrent is a plant’s physical texture, which makes it unpleasant to eat. Deer avoid plants with fuzzy or woolly leaves, such as lamb’s ear, and those with coarse or sandpaper-like textures. Thorny or prickly plants, including roses and barberry, are also less likely to be consumed due to the physical discomfort they present.
A final category of avoided plants includes those that are naturally toxic or bitter. Many common spring-flowering bulbs and garden perennials contain chemical compounds that are irritating or poisonous to deer. Examples include daffodils, foxglove, monkshood, and yew. These plants are sampled once and then permanently bypassed in favor of more palatable forage, minimizing the risk of consuming harmful substances.